News from ADHE:

NOTE TO EDITORS: More county-specific information and other university attendance is available in the attached PDF. Please contact me if you need additional information.

November 3, 2010

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Brandi Hinkle
Communications Coordinator
Arkansas Department of Higher Education
501-683-2078 desk
501-940-2030 cell
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More populated counties, larger schools receive higher number of scholarships, enrollees

LITTLE ROCK, AR – More than 30,000 Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarships have been awarded this fall, with the intent of providing higher education opportunities to underserved Arkansans and lessen the financial burden for students and their families.

Students can qualify for the scholarship based on Arkansas residency, and/or grade point average and/or ACT score. Award amounts were set at $2,500 for the academic year for those attending two-year colleges and $5,000 for students attending a four-year university, either public or private.

The Arkansas Lottery Scholarship dramatically increased academic scholarship funding beginning this year, making the total scholarships awarded to date 30,410 as compared to 8,282 during the last academic year. Of those receiving the Academic Challenge Scholarship this year, approximately 75 percent are attending four-year universities.

“Research indicates that student success is dependent on three main factors: financial support, academic preparation and personal matters,” said Arkansas Department of Higher Education (ADHE) Director Jim Purcell, Ph.D. “The scholarship as currently designed encourages academic preparation, degree completion within four years, and of course helps provide the financial support needed for students to successfully matriculate.

“With fewer money woes, students can hopefully concentrate on their studies, apply themselves, participate in on-campus activities and make the most of their college experience,” Purcell said. “Families are hopefully better able to support students’ goals when they have less financial pressure.”

The Arkansas Academic Challenge is partially funded by the Arkansas Lottery Commission, created by the 2009 General Assembly as a result of voter approval in November 2008 of a constitutional amendment allowing a scholarship lottery. Ticket sales began in September 2009. Through June 2010 the Arkansas Scholarship Lottery has generated $82 million for scholarships with an expectation of $105 million in the next fiscal year.

First-time College Students
A total of 12,800 scholarships went to Traditional category students, or those entering college immediately following high school graduation. The largest number of scholarships awarded by home county was:

1. Pulaski – 1,575
2. Benton – 873
3. Washington – 762
4. Sebastian – 645
5. Faulkner – 588

The top five schools of choice by enrollment for students in the traditional category were:

1. University of Arkansas at Fayetteville – 2,102
2. University of Central Arkansas in Conway – 1,383
3. Arkansas State University at Jonesboro – 1,197
4. Arkansas Tech University in Russellville – 1,080
5. University of Arkansas-Fort Smith – 775

Current Students
In the Current Achiever category, or those already enrolled in school who received an Academic Challenge Scholarship during the 2009-10 academic year, a total of 6,172 were awarded with the most by county as follows:

1. Pulaski – 1,057
2. Faulkner – 505
3. Washington – 481
4. Benton – 394
5. Sebastian – 325

The top five schools of choice by enrollment for students in the Current Achiever category were:

1. University of Arkansas at Fayetteville – 1,599
2. University of Central Arkansas in Conway – 1,024
3. Arkansas Tech University in Russellville – 648
4. Arkansas State University at Jonesboro – 536
5. University of Arkansas-Little Rock – 316

In the Original Award category – recipients of the Academic Challenge Scholarship prior to the 2009-10 academic year – the total was 5,362 with the most awards by county as follows:

1. Pulaski – 436
2. Washington – 288
3. Craighead – 261
4. Faulkner – 246
5. Sebastian – 246

The top five schools of choice by enrollment for students in the Original Award category were:

1. Arkansas State University at Jonesboro – 726
2. University of Arkansas at Fayetteville – 725
3. University of Central Arkansas in Conway – 688
4. Arkansas Tech University at Russellville ­– 627
5. University of Arkansas-Fort Smith – 319

Returning Students
In the Non-traditional student category, older students or those returning to school after an absence, a total of 6,076 received awards with the top five counties for scholarships as follows:

1. Pulaski – 1,101
2. Washington – 426
3. Faulkner – 347
4. Benton – 321
5. Saline – 237

 
The top five schools of choice for students by enrollment in the Non-traditional category were:

1. Pulaski Technical College at North Little Rock – 758
2. University of Arkansas-Little Rock – 474
3. University of Arkansas at Fayetteville – 440
4. Northwest Arkansas Community College in Bentonville – 406
5. Arkansas State University at Jonesboro – 331

High school seniors can begin applying now for financial aid for the 2011-12 academic year at www.adhe.edu through the YOUniversal scholarship application, which helps determine the scholarships for which a student can qualify. Award notifications will begin after the application deadline of June 15.

The ADHE is responsible for carrying out the policy directives of the Arkansas Higher Education Coordinating Board, approving and reviewing college and university academic programs and developing funding recommendations for the state’s 11 public universities and 22 public two-year colleges as well as several other post-secondary entities.

In addition, the agency is responsible for distributing approximately $170 million annually from state revenues and lottery funds intended to ease the financial burden of students seeking an education beyond high school. For more information, visit www.adhe.edu or call 501-371-2000.

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